Electronic device with mounting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electronic device ( 10 ) includes a case ( 20 ), a circuit board ( 30 ) received in the case, a front panel ( 40 ) including a first groove ( 42 ), a gasket ( 50 ) including a hook ( 54 ), and a pair of fixing posts ( 60 ) for securing the gasket on the front panel. The front panel is mounted to the circuit board. The hook is received in the first groove. Each fixing post is received in respective ends of the first groove.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to electronic devices, and particularly to anelectronic device with a mounting apparatus for fixing a gasket thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The operation of electronic components received in an electronic device,such as a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), is oftenaccompanied by the generation of electromagnetic interference (EMI). TheEMI may cause significant problems for other surrounding electroniccomponents, and may do harm to users of the electronic device. Thus, EMIsources need to be effectively shielded.

A conventional EMI shielding approach for solving this problem uses acompressible gasket made of conductive foam. The compressible gasketadheres to a front panel mounted to a circuit board received in theelectronic device. Although the EMI may be shielded by the compressiblegasket, the compressible gasket is difficult to disengage from the frontpanel later on if necessary. If the compressible gasket needs to bedetached from the front panel, damage to the compressible gasket may becaused. When this happens, the shielding effect of the gasket may bedegraded, and the effective performance of the electronic device may beinterrupted or obstructed by EMI.

Another conventional EMI shielding approach for solving this problemuses a conductive gasket to shield the EMI. However, the conductivegasket is only a resilient sheet, which is engaged on the front panelmounted to the circuit board received in the electronic device, and theresilient sheet may slide along the front panel and become disengagedfrom the front panel, thereby becoming less effective. Furthermore,since the disengaged gasket may scratch the front panel and the circuitboard, and may strike the electronic components in the electronicdevice, damage to the electronic device may occur. Besides, positioningof the conductive gasket is difficult. Adherence of the conductivegasket is not always reliable after repeated use.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry toovercome the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides a mounting apparatus for fixing agasket including a hook. The apparatus includes a front panel and a pairof fixing posts for securing the gasket on the front panel. The frontpanel includes a first groove for receiving the hook of the gasket. Eachpost is received in one of ends of the first groove respectively.

Another aspect of the invention provides an electronic device. Theelectronic device includes a case, a circuit board received in the case,a front panel including a first groove, a gasket including a hook, and apair of fixing posts for securing the gasket on the front panel. Thefront panel is mounted to the circuit board. The hook is received in thefirst groove. Each fixing post is received in one of ends of the firstgroove respectively.

Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a mounting apparatus, agasket, and a circuit board of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a circle portion II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but viewed from another aspect;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, assembled view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an assembled view of an electronic device of an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate an electronic device 10 of an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 10 comprisesa case 20, a plurality of circuit components like circuit boards 30, aplurality of front panels 40, a plurality of gaskets 50, and a pluralityof fixing posts 60. One of the front panels 40 together with one pair ofthe fixing posts 60 forms a mounting apparatus for securing the gasket50.

The case 20 comprises a top wall 22, a bottom wall 24 and a pair of sidewalls 26. The top wall 22 is parallel to the bottom wall 24 andperpendicular to the side walls 26. The side walls 26 connect with thetop wall 22 and the bottom wall 24. The top wall 22, the bottom wall 24,and the side walls 26 cooperatively bound a cavity 28 for receiving thecircuit boards 30. The circuit boards 30 are parallel to each other andparallel to the side walls 26.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the front panel 40, is mounted to an edge ofthe circuit board 30, and comprises a top portion 46 and a side portion48. The side portion 48 comprises a first surface 45 perpendicularlyconnecting with the top portion 46, and a second surface 47 parallel tothe top portion 46. The side portion 48 defines a first groove 42 in thefirst surface 45 adjacent to the top portion 46, and a second groove 44in the second surface 47. The first groove 42 has a width slightlygreater than that of the second groove 44, facilitating installation ofthe gasket 50 on the front panel 40. The extension direction of thefirst and second grooves 42, 44 is same as the forming direction of thefront panel 40. For example, the extension direction is same as theforming direction of the front panel 40 when the front panel 40 is madeof Aluminum through an extrusive process.

The gasket 50 is mounted to the corresponding front panel 60 forshielding the EMI emissions and has a symmetrical structure. The gasket50 has an arcuate cross-section and comprises a pair of bent portions 52and a pair of hooks 54. Each hook 54 is formed at an edge of each of thebent portions 52. The hooks 54 are received in the first groove 42 andthe second groove 44 of the front panel 40 respectively.

The fixing posts 60 are received in respective ends of the first groove42 to secure the gasket 50 on the front panel 40. Each fixing post 60has a narrowed end facilitating insertion into the respective end of thefirst groove 42. A diameter of each fixing post 60 away from thenarrowed end is slightly greater than the width of the first groove 42.The fixing posts 60 can be formed through injection molding and made ofplastic. As an alternative embodiment, the fixing posts 60 can be madeof other material. As an alternative embodiment, the narrowed end ofeach fixing post 60 can be instead be rounded.

Referring to FIG. 4, in assembly, the front panel 40 is mounted to anedge of the circuit board 30. The hooks 54 of the gasket 50 are receivedin the first groove 42 and the second groove 44 of the front panel 40respectively. The fixing posts 60 are received in the two ends of thefirst groove 42 to prevent the gasket 50 from disengaging. Thus, thegasket 50 is firmly secured on the front panel 40. Furthermore, thefixing posts 60 are easily removed from the first groove 42 with a toolfor disengaging the gasket 50 from the front panel 40 when necessary.

With the end of each fixing post 60 being narrowed, or alternatively theend of each fixing post 60 being rounded, the fixing posts 60 are easilyinserted into the first groove 42. In addition, with the diameter of theportion of each fixing post 60 away from the narrowed end being slightlygreater than the width of the first groove 42, the fixing posts 60 arefirmly fixed in the first groove 42 stably securing the gasket 50 on thefront panel 40. Thus, during operation, transportation, or some othersituation, the gasket 50 cannot become accidentally disengaged from thefront panel 40. Thereby damage is prevented from the gasket 50 beingloose and striking objects within electronic devices and EMI shieldintegrity is maintained.

While exemplary embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only and notby way of limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the presentinvention should not be limited by the above-described exemplaryembodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the followingclaims and their equivalents.

1. A mounting apparatus for fixing a gasket comprising a hook, themounting apparatus comprising: a front panel defining a first groove forreceiving the hook; and a pair of fixing posts for securing the gasketon the front panel, each post being received in respective ends of thefirst groove.
 2. The mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe front panel further comprises a top portion and a side portionconnected with the top portion.
 3. The mounting apparatus as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the side portion comprises a first surfaceperpendicularly connecting with the top portion, and a second surfaceparallel to the top portion.
 4. The mounting apparatus as claimed inclaim 3, wherein the front panel further defines a second groove.
 5. Themounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the gasket furthercomprises another hook received in the second groove.
 6. The mountingapparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first groove is defined inthe first surface adjacent to the top portion, while the second grooveis defined in the second surface away from the top portion.
 7. Themounting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a width of the firstgroove is greater than that of the second groove.
 8. An electronicdevice, comprising: a circuit board received in the case; a front panelmounted to the circuit board, the front panel defining a first groove; agasket comprising a hook, the hook being received in the first groove;and a pair of fixing posts for securing the gasket on the front panel,each post being received in respective ends of the first groove.
 9. Theelectronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the front panel furthercomprises a top portion and a side portion connected with the topportion.
 10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, wherein theside portion comprises a first surface perpendicularly connecting withthe top portion, and a second surface parallel to the top portion. 11.The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the front panelfurther defines a second groove.
 12. The electronic device as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the gasket further comprises another hook received inthe second groove.
 13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 12,wherein the gasket has an arcuate cross-section and comprises two bentportions, each bent portion connecting with the corresponding hook ofthe gasket at a distal end.
 14. The electronic device as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the first groove is defined in the first surfaceadjacent to the top portion, while the second groove is defined in thesecond surface away from the top portion.
 15. The electronic device asclaimed in claim 11, wherein a width of the first groove is greater thanthat of the second groove.
 16. An electronic device comprising: a caseof said electronic device enclosing said electronic device and defininga cavity therein; a circuit component removably installable in saidcavity of said case to have at least an edge of said circuit componentexposable out of said case from a side of said case; a panel attachableto said edge of said circuit component and extending therealong toshield said circuit component along said side of said case; and a gasketremovably attachable to a side portion of said panel along a firstdirection parallel to said edge of said circuit component for furtherelectrical engagement along a second direction away from said sideportion of said panel to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI)protection for said circuit component in said case, said gasketmechanically engagable with said side portion of said panel to belimited from moving along said second direction after said gasket movesto installably attach to said side portion of said panel along saidfirst direction.
 17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16,wherein said panel is extendably formed along said first directionduring a forming process of said panel.
 18. The electronic device asclaimed in claim 16, wherein said side portion of said panel defines atleast one groove extending along said first direction to engage withsaid gasket.
 19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, whereinat least one fixing post is removably installable to said side portionof said panel to block said attached gasket from moving along said firstdirection.